Fifth Generation

68. Donna Grace BERNHARDT was born on 10 January 1936 in Monroe County, WI.²⁷ She died on 21 March 2004 at the age of 68 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.³⁰

Obituary Notes: "Donna Grace Muehlenkamp, 68, of Sparta, formerly of Summit Ridge, rural Norwalk, passed away on Sunday, March 21, 2004, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, after a valiant battle with cancer. She was born Jan. 10, 1936, to Gilbert and Leona (Saxby) Bernhardt in the Township of Clifton, Monroe County, WI. On June 8, 1954, she married Donald Muehlenkamp at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tomah.

Donna and Don farmed on Summit Ridge for 35 years, before moving to Sparta. Most recently Donna was employed as a greeter by Wal-Mart in Sparta, where she was noted for her outgoing personality. She had been very active for many years at St. John's Catholic Church on Summit Ridge, and was a member of the Parish Council of Catholic Women.

She is survived by two sons, Wayne (Calene) Muehlenkamp of Sparta and Steve Muehlenkamp of Hillsboro and his special friend, Michelle Brueggen; two daughters, Jayne Muehlenkamp of Onalaska and Susan (Rick) Sterling of Milwaukee; one brother, Jim (Mabel) Bernhardt of Wilton; two sisters, Doris (Roland) Kelley of Tomah and Sue (Gary) Prielipp of Tomah; six grandchildren, Rachel, Peter, Donald, Holli, Colten and Megan; two great-grandchildren, Alexx and Morgan; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Don, in 1992; and her parents, Gilbert and Leona.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 24, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sparta. Rev. James Leary O.F.M. Cap. officiated. Burial followed in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery on Summit Ridge. Visitation was Tuesday, March 23, from 5-8 p.m. at the Torkelson Page-Smith Funeral Home in Sparta, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., and on Wednesday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of the service. The Torkelson Page-Smith Funeral Home in Sparat assisted the family with arrangements."

Donna Grace BERNHARDT and Donald Charles MUEHLENKAMP were married on 8 June 1954 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^12,38 Donald Charles MUEHLENKAMP, son of Alphonse MUEHLENKAMP and Helen BERENDES, was born on 13 July 1930 in Monroe County, WI.²⁷ He died before March 1998 at the age of 67.¹²

Donna Grace BERNHARDT and Donald Charles MUEHLENKAMP had the following children: